Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces backs the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
When the band received the award in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist divided her prize among several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Also winners that year M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
